TASK FORCE “ALL-AMERICAN” TRAINS NEW IRAQI SECURITY FORCES

	NEWS RELEASE HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND 7115 South Boundary Boulevard MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101 Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894

December 8, 2003
Release Number: 03-12-20

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TASK FORCE “ALL-AMERICAN” TRAINS NEW IRAQI SECURITY FORCES

The 82nd Airborne Division and attached units, also known as Task Force “All American,” continue in the establishment of Iraqi security forces. Current enrollment shows Iraqis actively seeking to secure their own country and taking responsibility for their own safety and protection.

Iraqi Civil Defense Corps (ICDC) recruits began moving from Fallujah to the Navea Training Center for the next ICDC class, which is scheduled to graduate December 15th. In addition, Civil Affairs (CA) teams completed recruitment for the area’s second Border Police class. Currently, the class consists of 220 recruits and is scheduled to graduate December 21st. Each candidate received a $20 signing bonus for volunteering. Due to the overwhelming interest in the program, more Iraqis arrived for class than could enroll.

Also, in the Al Anbar province, CA personnel completed work at the Al Faris State Company sodium phosphate plant in Nassir Wa Al Salaam. The factory now operates at 90% efficiency and is projected to operate at full capacity by January. The completion of the plant will generate an additional 800 jobs for the local population.

Soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division, 1st Infantry Division, and 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment remain committed in accelerating the Iraqi security forces to free coalition forces to conduct sophisticated offensive operations against former regime elements and terrorists, for which they are best suited.

The 82nd Airborne Division and attached units, also known as Task Force “All American,” continue in the establishment of Iraqi security forces....the next ICDC class..is scheduled to graduate December 15th. In addition, Civil Affairs (CA) teams completed recruitment for the area’s second Border Police class...
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Iraq-ization (someone clue in Newt) continues, ping!

I saw this story on 60 Minutes last evening and would be interested in your take on it.
Can this be the true or should it be just dismissed as CBS liberal bias? Because, it did come across as disturbing if that is the way it really is with L. Paul Bremer and the way he is running things in Iraq.

I would be open to anyone's take on this story's validity.

Operation Iraqi Freedom
Dec. 4, 2003

When the U.S. invasion came last spring with promises of democracy and self-rule, people in Karbala were among the first to try and take charge of their own affairs.

Religious and community leaders got together and selected a city council to represent them, and a security force to protect them. They had assumed that their experiment in democracy would be applauded by the American military.

It was not. U.S. troops disarmed the protection force, arrested popular city councilmen and put back into power some of the same people who had served Saddam.

It has left people here angry and frustrated, including Dr. Hussein Shahristani, one of the most respected exiles to return after the war.

The last time 60 Minutes spoke with him was in London just before the war. He was one of Iraq's leading dissidents, a top nuclear scientist who had refused to help Saddam to build a nuclear bomb. At that time, he told Correspondent Steve Kroft about his 11 years in solitary confinement and torture at the hands of Saddam's henchmen.

Link to the rest of CBS 60 Minutes story

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